Ghost Writer (2007)

Since I'm on this Alan Cumming obsession, I've decided to watch as many films with him in it as I can. I found this one called "Suffering Man's Charity" or… "Ghost Writer". And I noticed that it had gotten quite a few bad reviews. I was a bit surprised by this. And I was even more surprised when I had finished the entire movie. I found this film to be quite phenomenal. It was dark, twisted, and it really had very interesting, and in-depth characters. Alan Cumming's performance was truly brilliant. I hadn't really seen him portray that sort of role before, and it was honestly amazing to see. He was vulnerable, and innocent in a way. But then with a blink of an eye, his personality was completely different. He could switch his emotions with such intensity, and it was believable. To actually be able to get into the mindset of that character, it must've been truly difficult. I take my non-existent hat off to Mr. Alan Cumming. The story of this film was well thought out, and it was really actually quite simple. But the simplicity, mixed with the performance of the actors, it really brought this movie to life in the darkest of ways. This film does not deserve the bad reviews it had gotten. I really do recommend this film.

Someone, please call me a psychiatrist! I loved this movie, and haven't laughed this much in a long time! It's like a car accident on the highway; you don't want to look, but you just can't help yourself!Think Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Misery.Alan Cummings is SO over the top, it's hysterical. You kind of WANT to feel sorry for him at the beginning, but there is just nothing truly redeeming about his character. I loved the way he got his comeuppance in the end.David Boreanaz is good throughout, but particularly in the latter part of the movie, which he seems to embrace with unabashed glee.If you like camp and bizarre humor, this is a movie you should definitely check out!

Suffering Man's Charity is set in Los Angeles where the slightly demented music teacher John Vandermark (director Alan Cumming) lives in a big house left to him by his mother, a young struggling writer named Sebastian (David Borneanaz) also lives there after John had taken pity on him. However Sebastian is taking liberties with John's kind hospitality running up large phone bills & never paying a penny for anything, John has had enough of Sebastian & his leeching & decides to confront him. Things turn nasty & after John completely loses it Sebastian ends up dead, wanting to get something back from Sebastian John passes his novel off as his own & strikes a lucrative book deal with a New York publisher but the ghost of Sebastian starts to haunt John...More commonly known under the title Ghost Writer this was directed by & staring British comedian & actor Alan Cumming this is a really strange one that I don't quite know how to sum up or even comment on, for me it's a complete turkey but I guess there might be an audience out there for it somewhere. To be honest I don't get Suffering Man's Charity at all, by that I mean I understand the plot & what happens but I don't understand it thematically or who it would or is meant to appeal too. According to the IMDb this is a horror comedy but I am struggling to think of a single funny moment during the thing & as for being a horror film there's a small subplot about a ghost but nothing else as far as I could see. I really don't know how to describe this film or what genre to assign it. To my eyes the whole thing feels like it is supposed to be a dark comedy but as I said it's not funny at all & while it's definitely different, quirky & off-beat that doesn't mean it's any good which I don't think it is. Overall Suffering Man's Charity didn't do anything for me & while there might be a small audience out there for it I can't see it appalling to the common person at all.This is well shot & looks decent enough but not much more, there's nothing scary or atmospheric here & no real horror. There's a gay kiss thing going on at the end which is slightly disturbing as it comes out of nowhere but overall this is pretty forgettable stuff.With a supposed budget of about $3,000,000 this was shot in Los Angeles & is well made. The actors play everything over the top with a bizarre performance from Cumming while Borneanaz gets to dress up in a bra & Panties with Carrie Fisher & Anne Heche in small cameo roles.Suffering Man's Charity is a strange film that almost defies description & is hard to categorize, personally I didn't like it at all & just didn't get what the makers were aiming for. Not my type of film at all & I doubt it would appeal to the majority.

There is only one reason to see this film - David BOREANAZ! The plot seems typically reasonable, but writing or directing over the top should not impede a good play or movie. There is no need to act as though everyone is without morals or merit. A well-executed comedy should be able to reach everyone without using one expletive word. Seinfeld's comedy was always outrageous, but within the acceptable guidelines, and this is the kind of comedic writing that many new artists never understand. Without vulgarity or graphic violence, most writers have no idea how to entertain people anymore. David is always wonderful in whatever he does. He has timing, looks, charm, and savoir faire. Cummings, go back to Creative writing class 101 and this time, pay attention.